John Thon Majok
John Thon Majok is a program associate at the Wilson Center where he manages grants and provides financial oversight for the Global Sustainability and Resilience Program.
Prior to joining the Wilson Center in 2013, John Thon was a contractor at the U.S. Department of State where he helped develop strategic outreach plans for global alumni at the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. From 2007 to 2009, he managed a multi-country portfolio of State Department grants at the Council of American Overseas Research Centers. In 2006, he coordinated global outreach for the USAID-funded Diaspora Skills Transfer Program for South Sudan. In addition, he has worked on Capitol Hill as a congressional intern for an Arizona Congressman in 2004.
John Thon holds an MPA in public administration from George Mason University. Born and raised in South Sudan, John Thon has lived in Ethiopia and Kenya before coming to the United States in 2001. He speaks English and Dinka, with basic knowledge of Arabic and Swahili.
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Keep Moving Forward: Refugee Resilience and Citizen Diplomacy
›August 15, 2018 // By John Thon Majok
More than 17 years ago, I came to the United States as part of a refugee group known as the “Lost Boys” of Sudan. In 1987, civil war separated me from my parents for almost 10 years. After 13 years of living in limbo in refugee camps, I was given the opportunity to settle in Tucson, Arizona, where I quickly integrated myself into the American society as a productive citizen. My story demonstrates the resilience paradox: Exposure to prior hardships helps us become more resilient.
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A Case for Refugee Resilience: Reflection on the Lost Boys’ Story of Perseverance
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Fifteen years ago last month, I was brought to America through the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program after having lived in refugee camps in Ethiopia and Kenya for more than a decade. As I reflect on my experience, it is my hope that it will inspire others and help inform dialogue on forced migration so that refugees are perceived not just as victims, but models of resilience.
